The first of three press conferences to hype the September 13 Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford bout unfolded on Friday night in Saudi Arabia, kicking off around 2:30 PM ET. It was by no means a memorable session.
No big surprise being that Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs), the 34-year-old Mexican who has been the sport’s lead dog long enough that we can call it his era, arguably, and Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), 37, are not traditional sh*t talking “Ima eff you up” types.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t fascinating, though more on the business side of the game.
Kriegel and Kellerman
First off, those watching on a stream heard a voiceover done by Mark Kriegel for the last eight or so years, part of the ESPN/Top Rank package.
We saw snippets of Mayweather-Pacquiao and snatches of dollar bills being passed in dark and smokey rooms while Kriegel said, “What if kings would meet, the two greatest active fighters of the 21st century, the sports’ biggest draw and its savviest predator..what if Canelo Alvarez fought Terence Crawford? Guess what. No more what if. It’s on.”
Cut to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the sport’s main show-runner, Turki Alalshikh, continued his foray into our planet’s arguably greatest sport.
The Turki commitment to the game is indeed fascinating. Now, three years into the play, it is clear he is still figuring this out, trying to, as he goes. Fans and followers of the sport are doing so as well. We know Top Rank is parting ways with ESPN next month, so the Kriegel addition right away had me pondering the shifts underfoot in the sweet & savage science space.
Work in progress is what came to mind as I listened to emcee Todd Grisham’s voiceover preceding the “blockbuster battle the world has been waiting for in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the undisputed super middleweight championship of the world.”
Grisham shouted out the King of Saudi Arabia and Turki, then the fighters. We saw a video of Crawford, the Nebraska athlete who has been seen as the best or among the top three fighters of this “era.” Grisham said he will be moving up two weight classes to get this opportunity to join Floyd Mayweather and Dmitriy Bivol as pugilists who have defeated him.
Next, the video of Alvarez. Hearing Mauro Ranallo enthuse about a finish got you stoked. However, recent history has cast a light shadow over this promotion.
Canelo Has Been Mr. UD12
Alvarez last gloved up on May 3 in Saudi Arabia, winning by unanimous decision over 12 rounds. That was the seventh straight time Canelo went the distance. Reviews were mixed, to be gentle.
Alvarez has put the onus on foe Scull for not being more combative.
His diehard fans have to keep their guard firmly up when defending his legacy on social, with plenty of critics, including ex-promoter Oscar De La Hoya, citing his slate of workmanlike, efficient outings.
The last one was bankrolled by Turki, who it is clear has trauma feelings from THAT weekend, which was supposed to be a grandiose showcase to the world and instead left boxing fandom in the ruts.
Turki Still Stung From May Shows?
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves took over the heart of New York 🗽
Every screen, every corner of Times Square lit up with its world 🔥
Fights raged, fans roared, and the city watched it all unfold in real time 💥
An unforgettable night where boxing met spectacle 🥊 @fatalfury_pr pic.twitter.com/8PUL3vIv3x— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) May 5, 2025
The May 2 NYC Times Square gala didn’t come off in reality as it did in the conception stage. The reticence of persons on that card to FIGHT, in the OG definition of the word, glared at us and made folks who’d ponied up good money in a shit economy to watch the proceedings bummed.
Fans felt screwed, and Turki, it seems, did too. He put out a post calling for more rumbling less running, and invoked the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry to give a visual effect.
The Saudi fight maker had that on his mind when he took to the stage Friday, and good for him. He is paying a hefty bank for his promotions, and since folks watch to be entertained, he has every right to seek the sort of action that the majority of people most enjoy. The learning curve has been steeper than he’d publicly admit, though.
Turki started with a quip, asking why he’d been placed on the Canelo side of the stage. The MMA fixture Dana White was not present for this leg, for the record.
Turki Lauded Netflix
“All the team at Netflix, we will do big things together,” Turki stated.
“As I said last week, I hate the Tom and Jerry kind of boxing. I am sure they will deliver for me smashing face and blood. I don’t want to force the ring being 12 by 12 or something like this,” he said as Alvarez stared. “I think on September 13, we will see a great fight, at least in the last ten years.”
He has chosen to be less promoter-y and was not billing #CaneloCrawford as a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Savvy, better to underpromise and overdeliver after the May muckage.
We heard Max Kellerman next during a video tease. ‘Bud’ is seen dispatching foes, while Max, who has been on work hiatus after parting with ESPN two years ago, sets the table. “This is truly a superfight,” said Max. Looks like his non-compete is up?
Turki Goes At Oscar
Back to the learning curve… Grisham called for press questions, and a Saudi reporter spoke. Turki seemed mildly irked; next time in English and a non-Saudi media member, he reprimanded.
Mike Coppinger, ex-Ring, ex-ESPN, now with RING again as their lead actor, queried Turki. How will you stop Tom and Jerry scraps? “We will not have them anymore, and this fight and the next, we will have bonus for KOs,” Turki answered.
Turki says there will be a KO bonus.
Later, when asked about Oscar De La Hoya’s comments on what time the fight will happen:
Turki: Oscar De La Hoya wastes my time with this question.pic.twitter.com/l5KBRegGZt
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) June 20, 2025
Turki wanted Copp to call out Oscar De La Hoya for doing a Clapback, asking why #CaneloCrawford is being contested during the day. “You…Oscar De La Hoya wastes my time with this question.”
Hagler-Leonard: A Good Compare?
Turki got asked, is Crawford vs Canelo akin to Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard? He did not go there and liken that to this, really. “This will be one of the best fights of the last ten years,” he promised.
Turki shouted out Netflix and predicted viewing records will be broken. The fighters got some flak on social for having a genial dinner, and Turki said they like to treat visitors well in Saudi Arabia. He then exited the stage.
No Trash Talk
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) June 19, 2025
Grisham then pivoted to the boxers. Canelo threw Scull under the bus for being reticent, while Bud said his last fight against Madrimov was “cool,” even though his stoppage streak got busted.
Crawford, as per usual, spoke softly, with massive confidence. “He’s a great fighter, but he’s no Canelo,” the Mexican redhead said. They jawed politely.
Canelo said Turki is in Crawford’s corner. Bud didn’t take the bait to bust on Canelo’s output. “The best fighter will win,” Canelo said in a dispassionate tone.
Does he need to “put on a show?” I will come to win, Canelo stated, not over-promising. He really didn’t give out much in the way of “pull quote” stuff.
Ex-Boxing Scene boss Rick Reeno, of RING, brought out a belt which has been fashioned for 140,000 pounds (about $188,000)—it will be up for grabs in Vegas.
A staredown finished the show. There was no shoving or bravado shows for social. They wrapped it up; Grisham ran a tight session. The promotion will visit New York next, on Sunday. The setting will maybe help boost the energy level. It feels a bit business-y, I guess. Boxing and life in 2025.
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